Michigan Future Power Rankings

With the way Michigan has been recruiting -- and trending when it comes to improvement as it overhauls its facilities and its program from three down years under Rich Rodriguez -- it isn’t a surprise to see the Wolverines among the nation’s elite teams in the ESPN.com 2016 Future Power Rankings.

Michigan has spent a decent chunk of the past two seasons ranked in the Top 25 and with the way it has been recruiting is expected to stay in that range for the foreseeable future.

The Wolverines will rise if:The ranking, frankly, is probably close to spot on for Michigan’s future, although the one thing it might be underselling is where it rates the highest -- recruiting. Depending how the Wolverines finish out their 2014 class, the 8.8 metric might actually be a bit low. Michigan is in on the No. 4 player in the country, defensive end Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), and already has a commitment from the No. 2 player in the class, cornerback Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic). It is also at least recruiting the Nos. 1 and 5 players in the ESPN 150. If it were to land even three of those four along with Peppers, that is a dynamic top of the class. Combine that with the highly touted 2013 class and Michigan has the makings of a team poised to have a run at the College Football Playoff in 2016.